Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 1 SC479244 Registered provider: Worcestershire County Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a local authority. It is registered for up to three young people aged 10 to 17, who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, that have led to associated trauma and who are presenting complex behaviours. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2017 Full Outstanding 26/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/06/2016 Full Good 03/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child and manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)(iv)) 28/09/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (2)(d))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is with reference to the gas safety certificate 28/09/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (2)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is with reference to providing timely training to staff in the care of medicines. 28/09/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.3

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.3

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.3

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.3

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.3

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the 28/09/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 4 registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.3

Recommendations

 Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a bright, welcoming and fun place for young people to grow. It is located in an urban area with wonderfully scenic views of the countryside. Young people’s bedrooms are decorated to a good standard and each bedroom has been personalised.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, staff have supported young people to make significant progress with their education and confidence. For example, one young person has gained a place at a local college to study drama. She has also achieved work experience at a local and well-respected theatre for the summer period.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to understand the importance of education and ensure that young people attend school. Young people’s achievements are celebrated and praised by staff. One young person has finished her education and has had paid work at a local stable. Staff continue to promote other work opportunities for her. This helps prepare young people for adulthood.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to improve their confidence and social skills. For example, one young person told the inspector that he has managed to do more activities in the community, such as visiting the local park, which he was previously anxious about. Young people develop their independence skills through cooking meals, baking and learning to care for themselves.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that family time is promoted and that young people keep in contact with friends. Some young people have friends to stay at their home. However, staff need to ensure that risk assessments are updated to include the impact of friendships inside the home on young people’s safety. Staff also need to review risk assessments after incidents and update records to demonstrate that appropriate action has been taken. Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 5 Young people participate in local activities such as walking, going to the gym, netball, swimming and acting lessons. This helps young people to keep active and healthy. Staff ensure that each young person has individual activities. For example, each young person can participate in a holiday of their choice to Cornwall, Wales or Butlin’s Minehead.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people are safeguarded and said that they ‘love’ living at this home. Since the last inspection, no complaints have been made by young people.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no incidents of physical restraint. This is because staff listen to young people and talk with them before behaviour escalates. Well-written behaviour management plans inform a consistent and knowledgeable approach.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have only been three incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff make sure that they search known addresses, look for young people and work with the police to prioritise young people’s safety. Incidents are well managed, recordings are in depth and return home interviews are completed.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the previous manager left, there have been two safeguarding incidents for young people. These incidents were well managed. However, these were not notified to Ofsted. These incidents were also not recorded well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager left the home on 31 May 2018. There is currently an interim manager in post who is not yet registered with Ofsted. The current manager is supported by a dedicated and highly knowledgeable deputy manager. Team meetings are held regularly. These meetings provide staff with an opportunity to share knowledge and develop their skills.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular and good-quality supervision. Staff work in close partnership to ensure that young people receive consistent high-quality care. Staff receive a wide range of mandatory and specialist training including equality and diversity, signs of safety, and the ‘Prevent’ duty. However, four staff need to complete mandatory training in the care of medicines.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The location risk assessment is well evaluated and highlights potential risks to young people. It has been completed in partnership with local agencies including the police.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

During this inspection, there was no gas safety certificate available to the inspector to view. Effective action was taken to address this matter during the inspection.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work closely with social workers, teachers and therapists. Feedback received from professionals during this inspection was exceptionally positive. Staff communicate well with partnership agencies to promote the welfare of young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 6

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Worcester WR5 2NP

p.7

Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC479244 8 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8